Enhancing verbal communication in a hybrid working environment

Products featured in this blog entry…

• hushMeet meeting pod ideal for one-to-one meetings and confidential discussions

• hushAccess.L ADA compliant 6-person conference cabin for key presentations

• hushPhone private call pod for exceptional sales pitches

• hushWall whiteboard space divider for creative teamwork

• hushHybrid video call booth for effective discussions during hybrid meetings

• A11 acoustic armchair for brief, less formal calls

Hold private one-to-ones in the hushMeet pod, an ideal choice for confidential conversation.

One-to-ones can be really challenging, but they tend to be fruitful: thought-provoking, inspirational, or comforting for either party. HushMeet offers a cosy, hushed environment where trust flows, allowing you to discuss sensitive or confidential issues in full privacy and comfort. 

Overcome the fear of presenting in public in a comfortable conference booth, such as hushMeet.L.

Individuals who dread speaking in public find open-plan workspaces much more challenging as they feel constantly judged by the listeners. And when they feel apprehensive to share their part, their potential is locked. To help them, consider using a booth, such as hushMeet.L, making a spot-on solution for self-conscious employees

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

In open-plan workspaces, group settings can be demanding for employees who feel uncomfortable speaking in public. Consequently, they may stumble over words, struggling to express themselves clearly, further distracted by background sounds.

A team meeting cabin such as hushMeet.L is a game changer.

In the cabin, the only voices heard during the meeting are those of its participants. This environment enables everyone, including the most reserved ones, to feel comfortable, protected from background noise. In such a private, quiet setting, self-consciousness diminishes, allowing the task at hand to come first.

HushMeet.L filters out intelligible speech from the office floor.

It contains speech made inside, ensuring that no confidential discussions are overheard. Simultaneously, by trapping speech, it guarantees an undisturbed workflow on the floor. Indeed, intelligible speech may severely affect productivity by excessively distracting employees. To address this issue, consider introducing pods into your workspace to create an environment that benefits everyone.

Provide your salespeople with a pod that boosts their confidence during calls: hushPhone.

Both introverted and extroverted individuals can excel as salespeople. They both require private call spaces, such as hushPhone, for different reasons.

For introverted salespeople, a phone pod is a tranquil space that allows them to thrive.

Introversion often comes with empathy and listening skills – both being key strengths of a successful salesperson. More reserved individuals foster trust among clients, making them feel understood and appreciated. However, introverted employees require peace and quiet to find their own rhythm. And an acoustically-insulated call booth, such as hushPhone, is exactly what they need.

When it comes to extroverts, hushPhone lets them perform at their peak.

Extroverted individuals, who are naturally inclined to be loud talkers, can benefit from using hushPhone – an acoustically designed call space where they can speak loudly, allowing their confidence to take the lead.

With office call booths your personal matters are well-protected, too.

Whether it’s scheduling an important doctor’s appointment or having a private conversation with a family member at work, hushPhone is there for you. It contains every word you say, guaranteeing privacy and comfort. All you need to do is to step into the pod, handle whatever you need to, and return to your daily tasks, feeling at ease.

Let the hushWall whiteboard space divider foster collaborative workflow.

Of course, in some situations a more dynamic environment is required to facilitate organic collective thinking. A standalone, reversible hushWall helps create such a lively atmosphere.

The hushWall space divider is tall, wide, and equipped with wheels, allowing it to flexibly divide space.

It’s a unique solution that enables you to partition the space whenever necessary for brainstorming sessions or discussions. Additionally, you may customise either side by adding a whiteboard or a panel with a monitor mount can be installed, making content-casting easier.

Gathered around hushWall, your team members can brainstorm ideas in a more light-hearted, unrestricted manner compared to a rigid setting of a conference table. The rolling divider fosters a pleasant, welcoming atmosphere of creativity, allowing everyone to synchronise with their thoughts

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Enjoy seamless communication during hybrid calls in the hushHybrid video pod.

Another challenge regarding verbal communication in the hybrid environment is to provide impeccable acoustics, allowing all meeting attendees to hear one another regardless of the location they are working from. This fosters a sense of inclusion and appreciation for every meeting attendee.

HushHybrid ensures speech privacy in accordance with ISO 23351.

So, it contains speech within the pod, cocooning the user in a quiet space and allowing them to simply focus on their tasks. When office noise is cancelled out, both on-site and remote attendees can hear every single word of the call as speech becomes crystal clear.

With a video call pod, all employees have equal opportunities to participate and engage.

Why? Because in hybrid meetings, both on-site and remote workers feel included. Establishing strong connections among teammates is crucial as it makes everyone feel important, connected, and engaged while weak bonds can give rise to anxiety or the feeling of missing out.

Enjoy seamless informal calls in the A11 acoustic armchair.

In general, people tend to focus on private call spaces. But it’s also crucial to provide employees with places for casual calls, too. In some situations, an employee will not want to occupy a booth, so that they wouldn’t take it away from colleagues who require privacy to focus. Then, a chair such as the A11 with its sliding privacy panels is a spot-on solution

– claims Eliza Donek, Product Manager, Hushoffice.

The A11 is a skilful way to introduce functionality, autonomy, and class into the office layout.

With its specially-designed, capsule-like chair and carefully structured seat including headrest, backrest, and armrest, the A11 is a welcoming space. Just take a seat, settle in, slide the privacy panels closed to send a do-not-disturb message, and enjoy your private, comfortable environment.

The cornerstone of a productive hybrid working environment is flexible design.

For some employees, a private meeting booth is the only place allowing their words to flow effortlessly. You could even say that only inside the “box” are they free to think out of the box. Others need a dynamic work lounge to get the ball rolling and express themselves. Thus, the key is a flexible workspace providing a variety of furniture solutions.

Find out more about the Hushoffice flexible office furniture.

Verbal communication in a hybrid working environment – frequently asked questions

What can be done to minimise sound travel in the office?

Firstly, consider introducing soft, noise-cancelling materials, such as acoustic wall panels, curtains, or upholstery to reduce sound and eliminate echoing. Plants, flooring and rugs are a good direction, too. Finally, partition the office area using dividers and pods to prevent office noise from bouncing off the walls within the entire workspace. For more ideas, read about our Hushoffice collection.

What does sound masking entail in the context of the workspace?

Sound masking is an effective way to enhance the overall acoustics of a space by introducing ambient sound, such as music or a noise-cancelling device, to cover office noise.

What can I do to improve the office acoustics?

You can enhance the acoustics of your office by introducing soundproof space dividers, sound-dampening flooring, and acoustic work booths, such as hushHybrid (which helps by containing intelligible speech).